The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-01-29
FergusOn's Boy, Freddie.
l dined with Ferguson the other d.

Freddie is boy about nine years of age,
and is considered very bright. He is;
he is positively brilliant. But if he were
my boy l think I could polish him still
more. AT all events, / should try.
Freddie came into the parlor soon
after my arrival, his face shining from a
recent vigorous application of soap and
water, and his yellow hair plastered
down to his head SO that every bump
was plainly visible.
'You don't remember Mr.. Johnson,
do your said his father, taking the
young cub on his knee
yep was the reply.
whats that1' said Ferguson, reprov-
ingly.
yep repeated the boy, with sur
prised look.
Haven't told you to always say
yes, sir1'
'Yessir.'
That's better. So you remember
Mr.. Johnson, eh1 It's nearly three
years since Freddie saw you last, added
Ferguson, turning to me. Its aston
ishing what memory that boy has.
What do you remember about Mr.. John
son, Freddie ? he inquired.
Il remember, replied Freddie, inge-
nuouSly, that his hair was white at the
roots and black at the ends, and mar
said she guessed he hadn't dyed it this
week
This remark produced feeling of
constraint, so to speak, and Freddie was
banished from the parlor. | did not
see him again until | went to dinner.
Ferguson asked blessing. AS soon
as he had finished, Freddie burst out
with:
'Par, what's the reason you never do
that 'cept when we have comp'ny?'
Ferguson made some facetious remark,
but saw light in his eye which told
me there was trouble ahead for Freddie,
and l rejoiced in secret.
MAR said Freddie, presently, don't
| you wish Aunt Maria was hereP
'Why, Freddie2' asked his mother
with fond smile.
Cause you said the other day that
you wished she an Mr.. Johnson could
meet, cause he'd be such good catch
for her, an it was about her last chance,
an
frederick shouted Ferguson.
'Why, Freddie Ferguson!' exclaimed
his mother.
The subject was quickly changed. l
felt that it would be wise to send Fred
die away from the table, but Ferguson
dared Fate, and allowed him to remain.
Gimme another piece of cake! said
Freddie, presently.
you have had three already said his
mother gently.
Il know have, an want another.
But
Il want another piece of cake'
what can you possibly want of more
| cake?'
'Wanter eat it, of course. What'd
yer spose l wanted ter do with it-put
wheels on it an use it fer a wagon7'
1t struck me that this would be good
time to remove Freddie and infict cor
poral punishment upon him, but Mrs.
Ferguson thought differently. She re-
garded Freddie's remarks as laughable.
'It's astonishing what fund OF hu-
NOR that boy has got, she said, as she
gave him the biggest piece of cake on
the plate. 'He's always making quaint
| remarks like that. Par and think he'll
| become great humorist.'
'Mr. Johnson said Freddie as we
rose from the table, 'can feel of your
di'mun pin9'
'What singular request said Mrs.
Ferguson. 'But please let him do it, if
you don't mind, Mr.. Johnson. He's
got some funny idea in his head, and
we shall see what it is
We did. After rubbing the diamond
several times with his dirty forefnger
incidentally coloring my immaculate
shirt-front with currant jelly,) he said
wonderingly:
'Why, it amt sticky at ALL
mo, Freddie, of course not, said
Ferguson smilingly. 'Why should it
be sticky? Diamonds are not sticky.
mo, spose not, said Freddie, 'but
heard mar say that she thought it wasn't
di'mun at all, but only paste, an l
knew that paste
But at this point Freddie was hustled
out of the room by his father, and in a
few moments my heart was gladdened
by the sound of dismal yells in the dis
tance.
saw no more of Freddie that even
ing. l do not intend to dine at Fergu-
son's again at present.